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Vietnam: The Real War
To cover the Vietnam War, the Associated Press gathered an extraordinary group of superb photojournalists in its Saigon bureau, creating one of the great photographic legacies of the 20th century. Collected here are images that tell the story of the war that left a deep and lasting impression on American life. These are pictures that both recorded and made history, taken by unbelievably courageous photojournalists. In a moving essay, writer Pete Hamill, who reported from Vietnam in 1965, celebrates their achievement.
As we begin to look back from the vantage point of half a century, this is the book that will serve as a photographic record of the drama and tragedy of the Vietnam War.
As we begin to look back from the vantage point of half a century, this is the book that will serve as a photographic record of the drama and tragedy of the Vietnam War.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2013
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584 people want to read
About the author
Pete Hamill
110 books560 followersPete Hamill was a novelist, essayist and journalist whose career has endured for more than forty years. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. in 1935, the oldest of seven children of immigrants from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He attended Catholic schools as a child. He left school at 16 to work in the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a sheetmetal worker, and then went on to the United States Navy. While serving in the Navy, he completed his high school education. Then, using the educational benefits of the G.I. Bill of Rights, he attended Mexico City College in 1956-1957, studying painting and writing, and later went to Pratt Institute. For several years, he worked as a graphic designer. Then in 1960, he went to work as a reporter for the New York Post. A long career in journalism followed. He has been a columnist for the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and New York Newsday, the Village Voice, New York magazine and Esquire. He has served as editor-in-chief of both the Post and the Daily News. As a journalist, he covered wars in Vietnam, Nicaragua, Lebanon and Northern Ireland, and has lived for extended periods in Mexico City, Dublin, Barcelona, San Juan and Rome. From his base in New York he also covered murders, fires, World Series, championship fights and the great domestic disturbances of the 1960s, and wrote extensively on art, jazz, immigration and politics. He witnessed the events of September 11, 2001 and its aftermath and wrote about them for the Daily News.
At the same time, Hamill wrote much fiction, including movie and TV scripts. He published nine novels and two collections of short stories. His 1997 novel, Snow in August, was on the New York Times bestseller list for four months. His memoir, A Drinking Life, was on the same New York Times list for 13 weeks. He has published two collections of his journalism (Irrational Ravings and Piecework), an extended essay on journalism called News Is a Verb, a book about the relationship of tools to art, a biographical essay called Why Sinatra Matters, dealing with the music of the late singer and the social forces that made his work unique. In 1999, Harry N. Abrams published his acclaimed book on the Mexican painter Diego Rivera. His novel, Forever, was published by Little, Brown in January 2003 and became a New York Times bestseller. His most recently published novel was North River (2007).
In 2004, he published Downtown: My Manhattan, a non-fiction account of his love affair with New York, and received much critical acclaim. Hamill was the father of two daughters, and has a grandson. He was married to the Japanese journalist, Fukiko Aoki, and they divided their time between New York City and Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.
Author photo by David Shankbone (September 2007) - permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
At the same time, Hamill wrote much fiction, including movie and TV scripts. He published nine novels and two collections of short stories. His 1997 novel, Snow in August, was on the New York Times bestseller list for four months. His memoir, A Drinking Life, was on the same New York Times list for 13 weeks. He has published two collections of his journalism (Irrational Ravings and Piecework), an extended essay on journalism called News Is a Verb, a book about the relationship of tools to art, a biographical essay called Why Sinatra Matters, dealing with the music of the late singer and the social forces that made his work unique. In 1999, Harry N. Abrams published his acclaimed book on the Mexican painter Diego Rivera. His novel, Forever, was published by Little, Brown in January 2003 and became a New York Times bestseller. His most recently published novel was North River (2007).
In 2004, he published Downtown: My Manhattan, a non-fiction account of his love affair with New York, and received much critical acclaim. Hamill was the father of two daughters, and has a grandson. He was married to the Japanese journalist, Fukiko Aoki, and they divided their time between New York City and Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.
Author photo by David Shankbone (September 2007) - permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 7, 2013
First I'd like to thank GoodReads, The Associated Press and Pete Hamill for the first-reads copy of "Vietnam:The Real War" that I received from the GoodReads giveaway. I really, really wanted this book, as my uncle, who "served" as my Dad in the absence of my birth father, also served as a Marine in the Vietnam War for 6 years. I spent the past weekend riveted to this book, a brutally raw, honest and moving portrait of the reality of the Vietnam War. I've read many books and watched many documentaries about Vietnam over the years, always trying to understand more of the hows and whys of how my uncle's soul was forever scarred from his experiences. "Vietnam: The Real War" hit me like a ton of bricks - and helped me understand even more about my uncle. Pete Hamill's introduction is truly informative as well as deeply moving. When I reached the following 2 excerpts from his introduction, the floodgates opened and I sobbed like a baby - devastatingly for me, it is so very true. My uncle experienced this for years til his death at age 46. Massive heart attack. A result of a severely damaged heart due to heroin and alcohol use in Vietnam and for years to come. A severely damaged heart he knew about; yet still a deeply loving heart in spite of all he had seen and done. He knew he was living on borrowed time; yet never told a single living soul. I found his medical records after his death. This book tells and shows me why.
"All those who survived the Vietnam War would carry it, of course, throughout their lives. Most moved on. But all were marked by the experience, its horrors, its anguish, its unacceptable losses."
"We all know someone who got over 'Nam, to watch children graduate from college, or the arrival of grandchildren, or an anniversary waltz after decades. And then something triggers memory. Aretha Franklin singing "Respect"; the sound of a helicopter in the sky; a TV commercial for a war film; or a photograph in a magazine in a dentist's office. And then the war suddenly returns in a rush. Full of fear. Screaming, Pain. Loss."
This was before I even got to the heart of the book itself. Chapters full of the details of the history of the Vietnam War in words and most poignantly in the photographs that are all footnoted with names, dates and places. Photographs that are deeply moving, some award winning photos that we all have seen and know, and many others that complete a most gripping and accurate history of the war.
Of all the books and documentaries I've read and watched, "Vietnam: The Real War" is one of the best. An extremely well balanced narrative told in words and pictures, it holds true to what my uncle shared with my Grandmother (his Mother), my Mom (his big sister) and I his first night back home, all night and into the next day - never to speak so long and raw about the war again. I know what shattered him most were the horrors inflicted on the children, as in one photograph in the book we all know, by Nick Ut, of the children running, severely injured by a napalm attack. Originally a printer by trade, eventually a professional photographer; my uncle took many stark pictures in Vietnam that I have. Add to that a large box of letters he wrote home; the most haunting of which were written over several weeks when he and his unit were trapped in foxholes surrounded by the Viet Cong; not knowing every second whether they were going to live or die. Heavy stuff, and this book captures the true story as it was told and shown to me most excellently. I've always felt that I could only imagine the tip of the iceberg of the reality of the Vietnam War, or any war for that matter. I am pretty much a pacifist by nature and don't condone war; but then again there is no black and white, yes or no decision to go to war. Do we stand by and watch human suffering or step in to help defend those who are defenseless? Do 2 wrongs make a right? Who am I to say? I will say that while I do not support the concept of war, I 100% respect and support all the men and women who choose to go for all the well meaning reasons, as my uncle did in Vietnam. Proud to serve our country, proud to try to defend those in dire need, proud to be a Marine. Those who quickly have their naive but well intentioned vision of war shattered. Then living with the ghosts and reality of war until death. I am also very grateful to all the photographers and journalists who risked their lives(some to lose them as the book tells of) to write the stories and take the pictures of the reality of Vietnam for this book.
Another aspect that impresses me is how this book depicts respectfully the devastating losses to all sides, not just "our side". You can feel the loss of humanity on all sides in the photographs. You see a battleground with no "front line" as the book states: the jungles, mud, heat,napalm, rain, atrocity. Also, it includes information on the "true story" that didn't reach the public as it was happening; and the impact the lack of facts had on the opinions and feelings of Americans at home.
I could write so much more in this review, but instead I highly recommend that readers interested in and/or touched by the Vietnam War obtain a copy of "Vietnam: The Real War" to add to their collection. It is definitely a book that I will read and peruse over and over. I plan on buying several more copies for family members who dearly loved my uncle, unconditionally; scars and all; as a tribute to his memory. Semper Fi; Raymond Robert Saksa, Jr.; Semper Fi.
"All those who survived the Vietnam War would carry it, of course, throughout their lives. Most moved on. But all were marked by the experience, its horrors, its anguish, its unacceptable losses."
"We all know someone who got over 'Nam, to watch children graduate from college, or the arrival of grandchildren, or an anniversary waltz after decades. And then something triggers memory. Aretha Franklin singing "Respect"; the sound of a helicopter in the sky; a TV commercial for a war film; or a photograph in a magazine in a dentist's office. And then the war suddenly returns in a rush. Full of fear. Screaming, Pain. Loss."
This was before I even got to the heart of the book itself. Chapters full of the details of the history of the Vietnam War in words and most poignantly in the photographs that are all footnoted with names, dates and places. Photographs that are deeply moving, some award winning photos that we all have seen and know, and many others that complete a most gripping and accurate history of the war.
Of all the books and documentaries I've read and watched, "Vietnam: The Real War" is one of the best. An extremely well balanced narrative told in words and pictures, it holds true to what my uncle shared with my Grandmother (his Mother), my Mom (his big sister) and I his first night back home, all night and into the next day - never to speak so long and raw about the war again. I know what shattered him most were the horrors inflicted on the children, as in one photograph in the book we all know, by Nick Ut, of the children running, severely injured by a napalm attack. Originally a printer by trade, eventually a professional photographer; my uncle took many stark pictures in Vietnam that I have. Add to that a large box of letters he wrote home; the most haunting of which were written over several weeks when he and his unit were trapped in foxholes surrounded by the Viet Cong; not knowing every second whether they were going to live or die. Heavy stuff, and this book captures the true story as it was told and shown to me most excellently. I've always felt that I could only imagine the tip of the iceberg of the reality of the Vietnam War, or any war for that matter. I am pretty much a pacifist by nature and don't condone war; but then again there is no black and white, yes or no decision to go to war. Do we stand by and watch human suffering or step in to help defend those who are defenseless? Do 2 wrongs make a right? Who am I to say? I will say that while I do not support the concept of war, I 100% respect and support all the men and women who choose to go for all the well meaning reasons, as my uncle did in Vietnam. Proud to serve our country, proud to try to defend those in dire need, proud to be a Marine. Those who quickly have their naive but well intentioned vision of war shattered. Then living with the ghosts and reality of war until death. I am also very grateful to all the photographers and journalists who risked their lives(some to lose them as the book tells of) to write the stories and take the pictures of the reality of Vietnam for this book.
Another aspect that impresses me is how this book depicts respectfully the devastating losses to all sides, not just "our side". You can feel the loss of humanity on all sides in the photographs. You see a battleground with no "front line" as the book states: the jungles, mud, heat,napalm, rain, atrocity. Also, it includes information on the "true story" that didn't reach the public as it was happening; and the impact the lack of facts had on the opinions and feelings of Americans at home.
I could write so much more in this review, but instead I highly recommend that readers interested in and/or touched by the Vietnam War obtain a copy of "Vietnam: The Real War" to add to their collection. It is definitely a book that I will read and peruse over and over. I plan on buying several more copies for family members who dearly loved my uncle, unconditionally; scars and all; as a tribute to his memory. Semper Fi; Raymond Robert Saksa, Jr.; Semper Fi.
August 22, 2014
I am stingy with my five-star ratings, but I can't find any problems with this book. It's basically best of pictures of a highly charged topic from a very highly regarded news source -- how can you go wrong with that?
There's a lot of text detail here, too. One of the things I often find so frustrating about photography books and exhibits is a lack of context -- okay, that picture is of a woman and her dead husband, but what is the context? What happened? To some degree a photo has to speak for itself -- the emotions involved, etc. -- but there are some things we can't know just by looking. I found it incredibly valuable to have not just the longer commentary at the beginning of each section, but to have more context on many of the photos -- whether or not the wounded soldier shown lived or died, for example, or how someone had been injured, or what the immediate conflict of the time was.
We also get to see some of the behind-the-scenes work -- some of the photographers who took these pictures are also pictured, both in the field and at the bureau, and in many places they serve as a reminder that civilians are not immune, that a camera is not a protective shield. "Press cards are not bulletproof" (page 23).
There was more that I would have liked to see, of course, although much of it was outside the scope of this project: I've read plenty about the reception that Vietnam vets received upon returning to the States, and I wouldn't have minded seeing more about that, or about war protests. (There was some of the latter -- it is just, understandably, not the focus of the book.) Another work -- way out of the scope of this one -- might consider the lives of the vets (or injured civilians?) years down the line. But in terms of what this particular book does aim to show, I have a hard time imagining that it could have been done much better.
There's a lot of text detail here, too. One of the things I often find so frustrating about photography books and exhibits is a lack of context -- okay, that picture is of a woman and her dead husband, but what is the context? What happened? To some degree a photo has to speak for itself -- the emotions involved, etc. -- but there are some things we can't know just by looking. I found it incredibly valuable to have not just the longer commentary at the beginning of each section, but to have more context on many of the photos -- whether or not the wounded soldier shown lived or died, for example, or how someone had been injured, or what the immediate conflict of the time was.
We also get to see some of the behind-the-scenes work -- some of the photographers who took these pictures are also pictured, both in the field and at the bureau, and in many places they serve as a reminder that civilians are not immune, that a camera is not a protective shield. "Press cards are not bulletproof" (page 23).
There was more that I would have liked to see, of course, although much of it was outside the scope of this project: I've read plenty about the reception that Vietnam vets received upon returning to the States, and I wouldn't have minded seeing more about that, or about war protests. (There was some of the latter -- it is just, understandably, not the focus of the book.) Another work -- way out of the scope of this one -- might consider the lives of the vets (or injured civilians?) years down the line. But in terms of what this particular book does aim to show, I have a hard time imagining that it could have been done much better.
January 31, 2024
Beautiful coffee table book, but not suitable for all coffee tables
“Vietnam: The Real War: A Photographic History by the Associated Press” is a beautiful oversized, hard covered book with 300 stunning mainly black-and-white and many full-page photographs. The book is organized chronologically starting in the 1950s with the first American boots on the ground and finishing with the dramatic fall of Saigon in 1975. The accompanying text to the photographs provides further excellent background information, adding to the drama of a lot of pictures. It is also an invitation for further investigation. It is easy to get lost in the book as well as in individual pictures.
The photos are mainly made by five of the most famous Associated Press (AP) war photographers: Horst Faas, Henri Huet, Eddie Adams, Nick Ut, and Phuoc Van Dang. Their names and faces may not be familiar to everybody, however their photographs in this book are instantly recognizable. Their pictures have become part of the collective memory as well as defining moments in the public perception and political debates in the West of what was going on in Vietnam. This is therefore also a tribute to AP's journalists, who saw more fighting than many Generals they met in briefing rooms and press centers.
“Vietnam: The Real War” is not for the faint-hearted. Some pictures are graphic and the stories behind some of them are stomach turning or incredibly sad. I read the book in conjunction with " Dispatches: Picador Classic " to add a psychological dimension. So all in all, this is a beautiful coffee table book, but not suitable for all coffee tables.
“Vietnam: The Real War: A Photographic History by the Associated Press” is a beautiful oversized, hard covered book with 300 stunning mainly black-and-white and many full-page photographs. The book is organized chronologically starting in the 1950s with the first American boots on the ground and finishing with the dramatic fall of Saigon in 1975. The accompanying text to the photographs provides further excellent background information, adding to the drama of a lot of pictures. It is also an invitation for further investigation. It is easy to get lost in the book as well as in individual pictures.
The photos are mainly made by five of the most famous Associated Press (AP) war photographers: Horst Faas, Henri Huet, Eddie Adams, Nick Ut, and Phuoc Van Dang. Their names and faces may not be familiar to everybody, however their photographs in this book are instantly recognizable. Their pictures have become part of the collective memory as well as defining moments in the public perception and political debates in the West of what was going on in Vietnam. This is therefore also a tribute to AP's journalists, who saw more fighting than many Generals they met in briefing rooms and press centers.
“Vietnam: The Real War” is not for the faint-hearted. Some pictures are graphic and the stories behind some of them are stomach turning or incredibly sad. I read the book in conjunction with " Dispatches: Picador Classic " to add a psychological dimension. So all in all, this is a beautiful coffee table book, but not suitable for all coffee tables.
August 28, 2017
I was born during the Vietnam War, and I remember news reports of events occurring in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The War still casts a shadow here, with Vietnam vets suffering from numerous maladies related to the conflict. Additionally, the war protests had numerous effects on American culture that we still see today.
But what actually happened in Vietnam? The Associated Press, amongst other news organizations, had reporters and photographers on the ground in Vietnam covering every facet of the war, including on the front lines.
This book is a collection of photographs taken during the conflict. Additionally, there are essays that give a basic chronology and history of the War. While the Vietnam War cannot be adequately covered in one volume, this work gives a photographic record of what happened. It is not for the faint of heart; some of the images are pretty graphic. However, if you'd like to learn about what happened in Vietnam, this is an excellent work to begin with.
But what actually happened in Vietnam? The Associated Press, amongst other news organizations, had reporters and photographers on the ground in Vietnam covering every facet of the war, including on the front lines.
This book is a collection of photographs taken during the conflict. Additionally, there are essays that give a basic chronology and history of the War. While the Vietnam War cannot be adequately covered in one volume, this work gives a photographic record of what happened. It is not for the faint of heart; some of the images are pretty graphic. However, if you'd like to learn about what happened in Vietnam, this is an excellent work to begin with.
January 3, 2022
A powerful collection of images from the Vietnam war through the Associated Press. While the Vietnam War cannot be truly covered in one book. This one does a hell of a job displaying the horror of that war and how unnecessary the conflict was. What really makes this book outstanding is that there is a lot of detail text from the photographers about the pictures they took and some of these photos are iconic such as the fiery suicide of the Buddhist monk. They go into the context of it all and the emotions that they felt which can be very heavy. It may be stating the obvious but this book is not for the faint of heart some of these images are graphic and at times down right disturbing. Still if you'd like to learn about the Vietnam war this is an excellent book to start with.
"We of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations who participated in the decisions about Vietnam acted according to what we though were the principles and traditions of this nation. We made our decisions in light of those values. Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong."
"We of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations who participated in the decisions about Vietnam acted according to what we though were the principles and traditions of this nation. We made our decisions in light of those values. Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong."
December 30, 2022
Exceptional.
This book is a solid quality book that encompasses both the famous Vietnam photographs like the girl running from her village who was set on fire, the man being shot in the street by an officer and the monk setting himself on fire along with photographs not often seen.
AP had some very good reporters and photographers in Vietnam during the war and this book does a good job displaying their work. There is some text interspersed between chapters that help to provide some context to each chapter of the book.
The book is organized chronologically, focusing primarily on the time when the US was involved. A good supplemental book to read if you are studying Vietnam. I read this book right after I finished The Vietnam War: An Intimate History and it was a good follow up.
This book is a solid quality book that encompasses both the famous Vietnam photographs like the girl running from her village who was set on fire, the man being shot in the street by an officer and the monk setting himself on fire along with photographs not often seen.
AP had some very good reporters and photographers in Vietnam during the war and this book does a good job displaying their work. There is some text interspersed between chapters that help to provide some context to each chapter of the book.
The book is organized chronologically, focusing primarily on the time when the US was involved. A good supplemental book to read if you are studying Vietnam. I read this book right after I finished The Vietnam War: An Intimate History and it was a good follow up.
October 9, 2023
great pictures
Wanted this book to see photos by the photographers who were on the front lines of the war were able to take. I was in Vietnam and didn’t get to see what other soldiers were being subjected too. This is the real war as if you were right there.
Wanted this book to see photos by the photographers who were on the front lines of the war were able to take. I was in Vietnam and didn’t get to see what other soldiers were being subjected too. This is the real war as if you were right there.
September 14, 2024
I read this book as a companion to the novel The Women. This is a photographic history of the Vietnam war. So many deaths. So much destruction.
September 8, 2020
Five Stars! Amazing images.
December 2, 2021
Pete Hamill relates stories of the photographers and these iconic photos from the American War. Mercifully, all black & white images.
February 23, 2017
Many good pictures from the Vietnam War from the Associated Press.
March 17, 2014
Excellent look at the Vietnam war through the eyes of numerous photographers who, under great danger, took pictures that are the images we remember today from that wasteful, useless war, which did so much harm to our country, and especially to Vietnam and Southeast Asia. However it's clear that the honest, unedited reporting and photography we got from the Vietnam War, due to censorship that threatens our democracy, is no longer available from current or more recent wars. The Vietnam War stopped when it did largely because of opposition to it in the United States, and it was still a very difficult war to get stopped. The history of the Vietnam War is a grim reminder that it's much easier to start or get involved in a war than it is to stop a war. We've been reminded of the same thing more recently with Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately for our democracy, news censorship and "embedded' reporting which by definition is inaccurate reporting, promises to make future wars even more difficult to prevent and stop. This book is a grim reminder that even though our constitution promises freedom and democracy to all Americans, our leader don't hesitate to use military violence to destroy the freedom and democracy of the citizens of other countries.
December 8, 2020
When Hamill died, I tried to find all his books to read or reread. One that popped up was an AP photo compilation published by Abrams about Vietnam, containing most of the photos we know from that war. The intro by Hamill celebrated the correspondents and photographers, a few Vietnamese, who contributed to the American picture of that war. It is both a personal and professional account of an emotional time that frequently brought a tear to my eye.
After I returned the book to the library, it was requested by someone else. I delivered the book to a man my age in a truck using our covid-era curbside service. He said "I hated when Hamill died, and tried to find all his books to read. This one just popped up, I didn't know about it." Me: "You will like this one."
After I returned the book to the library, it was requested by someone else. I delivered the book to a man my age in a truck using our covid-era curbside service. He said "I hated when Hamill died, and tried to find all his books to read. This one just popped up, I didn't know about it." Me: "You will like this one."
December 23, 2013
Collection of B&W photos from 1954 towards the end of French rule, to the fall of Saigon in 1975, covering diverse subjects, not just the combat, but also the civilian collateral damage, capturing the overall mood quite well. The brief writing in each chapter also summarizes the happenings and key events in an objective, factual way without condemnation or criticism of either side. A window into this notorious episode of the late 20th century.
December 28, 2013
Yes, that's what happened. Words on this one just can not be expressed by me anyway! I can not review- as it comes too close to home. Just remember, my small red-headed Jim, that you are not forgotten.
January 7, 2014
Great history... The AP did a great job jamming the horror of war into these pages.
October 13, 2014
A very interesting pictorial history of the Vietnam War.
August 22, 2014
Fantastic pictures. Helped me see a window into my father's life he doesn't share.
June 9, 2020
Read this in one sitting. Powerful images from amazing photographers.
January 5, 2017
Powerful images with an explanatory narrative brought back memories from high school and college days.
November 12, 2015
This piqued my interest.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews